On Wednesday, Reimagine Washtenaw's designers will present their ideas for what improvements could look in Pittsfield Township. The update to the Pittsfield Township Board of Trustees is purely informational and no board action will be taken.

The Carslisle/Wortman consulting firm will also present design ideas for the transportation “node” at the busy Washtenaw Avenue and Golfside Road intersection.

The recommendations are partly based on feedback collected by Reimagine Washtenaw through four public meetings in May and June, as well as online. The right-of-way study was funded through a U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant.

Reimagine Washtenaw aims to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, reduce the amount of traffic on Washtenaw, improve access for public transportation and create the type development or land use that contributes to those ends.

Officials from the city of Ann Arbor, Pittsfield Township, Ypsilanti Township and the city of Ypsilanti are working with urban designers and transportation consultants on the project. Master plans, zoning ordinances and design guidelines are being updated to reflect those considerations.

Of the scenarios, one kept Washtenaw looking much like it is today while another kept Washtenaw in a five-lane configuration throughout its busiest sections but reduced the number of lanes in other areas. A third scenario called for a four-lane road divided by a 45-foot median between Stadium and Carpenter that would shift to a three-lane road with two additional dedicated bus lanes on the east part of the county. Each scenario had a number of possible variations.

Planners stressed that the scenarios that include road diets in the eastern part of the county are 20 to 30 years off and could only happen when traffic volume has been reduced.

Parts of each scenario call for sidewalks connecting the entire corridor, dedicated bus lanes, and the plans incorporate “transit signal priority” that would allow bus drivers to control when lights turn red or green. Planners say the faster service would in turn draw more people to public transportation, which is one of the project’s central goals.

“I requested the presentation for the Board of Trustees. This falls in line with a series of presentations (on Reimagine Washtenaw),” Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal said.

The Board of Trustees will also consider two new tax abatements. They are the fifth and sixth tax abatements the township has considered over three meetings. The other four were unanimously approved.

Extang Corporation, a manufacturer of tonno pick up truck bed covers, truck accessories and more is requesting a 50 percent abatement over 10 years on $2.7 million of real and personal property.

The State Street company employs 280 employees and expects to add another 100 over the course of the abatement.

The Board will also consider a 50 percent abatement over 10 years on $1.53 million of real and personal and real property for Progenity Inc. The State Street laboratory provides genetic screening for people of child-bearing age, according to township documents.

The company employs 39 employees and expects to add another 30 over the abatement’s life.

There will be a public hearing for each abatement.

“I think the abatements are in line with the position township board has had that we will deploy tools available at a local level to expand, attract and retain businesses in the township,” Grewal said. “I think (the number of abatements) speaks to the fact that there an awful lot of expansions that are taking place in Pittsfield Township.”